Temple-Mosque Disputes Ignite Tensions: A Recap of Latest Clashes in UP

In 2024, temple-mosque disputes in Uttar Pradesh escalated following the consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. A court-ordered survey of Sambhal's Shahi Jama Masjid led to violence, claiming four lives. Various cases arose in Badaun, Varanasi, Mathura, and other cities, fueling religious tensions.

In the wake of Ram temple's consecration in Ayodhya on January 24, Uttar Pradesh witnessed a surge in temple-mosque disputes throughout 2024. The controversies reached a climax in Sambhal, where a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid caused unrest, claiming four lives.

Ongoing disputes spanned several cities, with Budaun seeing legal moves by Hindu groups seeking prayer rights at Jama Masjid Shamsi. In Varanasi and Mathura, historical claims resurfaced about sites allegedly housing former temples demolished centuries ago.

Amid ongoing legal battles, the Supreme Court instructed all courts to halt orders related to religious sites under the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, aiming to curb further tensions. Public opinions remain divided, highlighting the challenges in achieving a balanced resolution.

(With inputs from agencies.)